Kidnapped policemen freed in Ubaur

Reports suggest local notable brokered deal for release of police officials

BAHAWALPUR/ SUKKUR: Eleven of the suspected dacoits believed involved in Sunday’s kidnapping of seven police officials were killed in an operation before dawn on Monday near Ubauro, a town located close to the Sindh-Punjab border. The abducted policemen have been rescued safe and sound.

Some reports suggest a Jirga of local notables brokered a deal between the dacoits and the administration under which the abducted police officials were released in exchanged for safe passage to dacoits. The officials of the Punjab police were kidnapped from the Gello Kosh police checkpoint of the Machko police station early on Sunday.

The kidnapping was believed to be an attempt to hamper the Sindh and Punjab police’s joint operation against the gangs of Sulto Shar and Guddu Shar, who are accused of launching a rocket attack on an APC in the riverine area a few days ago.

Jarwar SHO Muhammad Hassan Kolachi was killed and two other policemen were injured in the incident. After Kolachi’s killing, the Ghotki police intensified the operation with the help of the Kandhkot-Kashmore police.

However, according to the police, this prompted Chhotu Bakhrani, a hardened criminal from southern Punjab, to join hands with Sulto and Guddu.

In a joint offensive against the law enforcers, the three gangs attacked the Gello Kosh police checkpoint on Sunday and kidnapped seven policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector.

A major search and rescue operation was launched for the abducted police officials. The scope of the operation was widened as Sukkur SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio and Khairpur SSP Nasir Aftab joined the effort with a large number of men.

Bahawalpur RPO Ehsan Sadiq said 11 kidnappers were killed and seven others injured as a result of helicopter shelling.

The sea, air and land operation targeted several hideouts of the gangs. A police source said more than 25 hideouts were destroyed. RPO Sadiq said the operation would continue until the area is cleared of the members of the three gangs involved in the kidnapping.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.